What tire width on an old bike
09-30-21, 03:46 PM
#1
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What tire width on an old bike
I have an old Clive Stuart frame that I want to finally get around to building up. It came with the old tubulars (way narrow) tires (23mm? Or so Maybe) anyways I would like to but a new wheel set on the bike for clinchers or tubeless and was curious (generally) will these bikes handle 28-30mm tires? Or is this not even worth exploring?
09-30-21, 03:52 PM
#2
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From that angle it looks like you have a massive amount of clearance and could go beyond 28mm even. Photos showing the actual clearance points (under the fork crown, rear chainstays and brake bridge) would help us be certain though
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09-30-21, 03:59 PM
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I'd be surprised if it wouldn't take a 32c tire. Those center pulls have a lot of reach and it looks like you have generous frame clearance.
09-30-21, 04:15 PM
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Between the chainstays is probably the primary restriction.
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09-30-21, 06:12 PM
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What those guys said. In my experience and looking at those photos, 32 mm would almost certainly be achievable and would be very desirable. See if you can borrow a wheel that has 700C x 32 tires and see if it'll fit. The main issue you might have is that you may need to deflate the rear to remove the wheel...a minor inconvenience.
09-30-21, 06:25 PM
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I’d go with a 28 or 30 mm tubular tire on the original rims. In my limited experience a good tubular rides like a clincher a size bigger as far as comfort and shock absorption.
10-01-21, 05:29 PM
#7
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My experience is that undimpled round-oval-round chainstays limit you to 28mm or so tires. If there is a dimple (or if you choose to add a dimple), 32 mm is a possibility. There is clearly plenty of radial clearance. The other possible pinch point is fork crown width.
10-01-21, 07:40 PM
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It is a lovely bike. Especially the fork blades and their smooth curve: Yowza! If your not interested in Tubulars, (and you should be), and fat tires wont fit, I'd recommend some TB-14s and 23 or 25mm Continental Grand Prix 4-5000s. I was recently surprised how nice some 23s rode on the wider rims. Of course there are other wide rims and nice tires but that was a revelation for me.
Really cool bike. I recognize you only have 22 posts but posting only one NDS photo on such a machine is frowned on here😇
Really cool bike. I recognize you only have 22 posts but posting only one NDS photo on such a machine is frowned on here😇
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I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
Last edited by Classtime; 10-02-21 at 02:21 PM.
10-01-21, 07:56 PM
#9
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Thank you all for the follow up responses to my question. VERY helpful. I am going to grab some measurements and look into this further.
mad far as going with tubulars - they make me a bit nervous as I’ve not had any experience with them. I can change a clincher in minutes so it’s more just the unknown for me. I want to use the bike for some light touring and the thought of tubulars is just an big question for me.
mad far as going with tubulars - they make me a bit nervous as I’ve not had any experience with them. I can change a clincher in minutes so it’s more just the unknown for me. I want to use the bike for some light touring and the thought of tubulars is just an big question for me.
10-02-21, 09:48 AM
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That's a pretty sweet bike, I'll bet it'll gleam with the brightness of a thousand suns once it's polished up!!!
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